quote:

ORIGINAL: Made2Obey

1963 South Vietnamese coup, and Arrest and assassination of Ngô Đình Diệm

As the Buddhist crisis deepened in July 1963, non-communist Vietnamese nationalists and the military began preparations for a coup. Bùi Diễm, later South Vietnam's Ambassador to the United States, reported in his memoirs that General Lê Văn Kim requested his aid in learning what the United States might do about Diệm's government.[116] Diễm had contacts in both the embassy and with the high-profile American journalists then in South Vietnam, David Halberstam (New York Times), Neil Sheehan (United Press International) and Malcolm Browne (Associated Press)

The coup d'état was designed by a military revolutionary council including ARVN generals led by General Dương Văn Minh. Lucien Conein, a CIA operative, had become a liaison between the US Embassy and the generals, who were led by Trần Văn Đôn. They met each other for the first time on 2 October 1963 at Tân Sơn Nhất airport. Three days later, Conein met with General Dương Văn Minh to discuss the coup and the stance of the US towards it.[118] Conein then delivered the White House's message of American non-intervention, which was reiterated by Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. the US ambassador, who gave secret assurances to the generals that the United States would not interfere.[119]

Miller argues that the role of the US in the coup should not be overstated, since the coup was mainly a Vietnamese affair already planned by the Vietnamese generals.


From Wikipedia, excerpted from a New York Times article. Even the most basic research could have found that.

quote:

ORIGINAL: WickedsDesire

His every next statement

And in theory it was to land the missiles 20-30km from Guam, or chewing gum, whereever the fuk that is.

Was it wrong for me to wish he actually hit the island by a bit of a mistake?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Made2Obey

It's true that in those days the CIA acted almost like a government on its own and there were a lot of rumors rolling around.
In the late fall or early winter of 1970 Diem's eventual successor, Nguyen Cao Ky visited the US with his wife, and one of his stops was at the Air Force Academy.
At the time I was in the 4th Cadet Squadron of the 1st Wing. Our squadron sponsor was the 89th Airlift Wing, based out of Andrews AFB. The same unit that operates Air Force One. It was the 89th that was flying Ky around in one of their other VIP aircraft. Because of that connection I was able to attend the formal dinner given for Ky by the 89th after his tour of the Academy.
Because of the rumors about the CIA and Diem at the time I asked Ky about that very issue. He replied that the Vietnamese people and not the CIA, killed Diem. Anecdotal, and what he might have been expected to say, I know, but at the time he did not seem to be dissembling.
So my opinion is that it went as he said.

Having the 89th as our squadron sponsors had a lot of perks. We got to meet more VIPs than any other squadron.